Start Your Own Home Sewing Business

Do you like to sew? If so, a home sewing business may be perfect for you. There are many ways to make a good income from home by sewing. You can:

Make specialty clothing

Provide monogramming services for businesses or sports teams

Focus on commercial sewing

Give sewing lessons to adults and children

Design and make dresses, wedding gowns and/or bridesmaids dresses

Provide alteration services

Design and make curtains and window coverings

Upholster furniture

Design and make slip covers for chairs and coaches

Upholster car seats

Design a make soft toys

Make custom embroidery items

Make knitwear and give knitting lessons

Provide crochet lessons and hand made, crochet clothing

Design and make tote bags

Make canvas cushions for outdoor furniture and boats

Make animal outfits

Design and make unique pillow cases and bedding materials

Make costumes

Starting a home sewing business is fairly straightforward. Here are 14 steps to help you get your home sewing business going:

14 Steps to Starting Your Home Sewing Business

1) Determine the services you are going to provide with your home sewing business. Take a look at the above list again. It’s by no means complete – you may think of something else related to sewing that you can do. Also do some research around your local community to see who is offering the service you’re thinking about providing. Most important, make your choice based upon what type of sewing you most enjoy doing – you could be doing a lot of it in the near future!

2) Choose a business name. Have fun thining of different names you could call your home sewing business. Then, decide upon a name that is easy for your customers to remember and also describes what you offer.

3) Get a business license. Make sure you understand what the legal requirements, policies, and procedures are in your town or city for having your own business and running it from your home.

4) Have business cards made. Keep your business card simple and easy to read. Make sure the name of your business, your name, and your contact information is included on your business card.

5) Develop a business plan. plan for your sewing business. Consider the 7 sections sections to include in your business plan. Don’t skip this step. A well developed business plan is going to help you through out each phase of your business.

6) Determine what equipment you will need for your business and the associated cost.

As you may already know, depending upon what the machine can do, a sewing machine can cost anywhere from $129 to $6,000. There are machines that:

Are computerized and accept floppy disks or embroidery cards to create embroidery designs

Have automatic needle threaders

Have an LCD touch panel

Can create 5 different button holes

Allows you to create decorative and construction over lock stitches on all types and weights of fabrics

You will also need additional equipment such as:

Measuring tape and rulers

Shearing and cutting scissors

Pattern markers

Needles

Various types and colors of thread

A full-length mirror so that you know what looks good and what does not

Avoid skimping on any of the above items – buy high quality products that will last you a long time.

7) Set-up your sewing room. Where you work is important. Make it comfortable, well organized, and a pleasant place in which to be sewing.

8) Determine your price. How much you make will depend what services you’re providing and what types of items you’re making.

Research what other people are charging for similar items and services. If your prices are too high, you will have a hard time getting business. However, if your prices are too low, you’re selling yourself short.

Also consider how much time you think it is going to take you to complete a specific project. Factor in the cost of the materials. Make sure that before you start a project for a customer that you discuss:

All costs involved

The kind of fabric you will be using

The design of the item you’re making

Any detail you’re adding to the item, such as buttons, zippers, piping, decorative stitching

Whether you are purchasing the fabric or your client is providing it

At each step of the project, consult with your customer. Keep the lines of communication open to ensure your client will be satisfied with the completed project.

For large jobs that will take you a considerable amount of time and cost your customer a lot, draw up a contract. This will protect you and your customer and is a professional way to conduct business.

9) Establish your policies and procedures. What will you do and what will you not do? What are your time frames for specific types of work and projects. How do you accept payment – cash upfront, half upfront and then the remaining balance upon completion of the work? Or, do you bill your clients? If you bill your clients, by when do they have to pay? Do you require a deposit before you begin working on a project – this is a good policy to have to ensure you don’t loose money on projects.

What are your procedures when a customer is dissatisfied? There is a lot you can do during the project to avoid having a customer be dissatisfied with the final product. However, prepare now for what you’re policy and procedures are if a customer is dissatisfied with the finished item.

10) Set-up the accounting related to your business. You want a system that will enable you to easily keep track of all expenses and income related to your business.

11) Educate yourself about tax requirements associated with owning a business.

12) Determine if you need business insurance. You may want to insure your equipment and you may want to get liability coverage.

13) Market your business. You can do one or more of the following:

Ask friends, family, and customers for referrals

Run and ad in your local Yellow Pages

Post a flyer or business card on community bulletin boards

Visit your local fabric shops, beauty salons, and florists and ask them if you can leave your business card for referrals

Think about other local businesses that would be a good source of referrals for you – visit them and ask if you can leave your business card

14) Strive to always learn and improve. To do well with a home sewing business your sewing skills must be excellent. Your work must be superior. New methods are always being introduce, so stay on top of them. Put that extra effort into your business and your professional skills and you will benefit from it!

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